Method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire for the quick bonding of an electronic monitoring device

ABSTRACT

A method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire and adhering an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber. The patch is placed at a selected area of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Patentapplication Ser. No. 9/205,931 filed Dec. 4, 1998, now abandoned titledMethod for Preparing an Innerliner of a Pneumatic Tire for the QuickBonding of an Electronic Monitoring Device; the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to pneumatic tires and, moreparticularly, to methods of attaching electronic monitoring devices tothe innerliner of a pneumatic tire. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to a method of preparing the innerliner of a pneumatic tire sothat a monitoring device may be securely attached to the innerliner ofthe tire.

2. Background Information

It is desired in the art to monitor the conditions of tires while theyare installed and in use on a particular vehicle. It is particularlydesirable to measure tire wear, internal temperature, and internalpressure. Other desirable measurements may be the number of tirerotations that have occurred in given time. These measurements arepreferably capable of being taken while the tire is in use withouthaving to remove the tire from the vehicle or otherwise interrupt theuse of the vehicle to take the measurements. It is particularlydesirable to monitor the conditions and statistics on large off-the-roadtruck tires because the off-the-road tires are expensive and subject toharsher conditions than typical passenger car tires. The off-the-roadtires on large trucks and other vehicles also must be regularlymaintained to maximize vehicle efficiency.

Numerous types of such monitoring devices are known in the art. One typeof known monitoring device uses a passive integrated circuit embeddedwithin the body of the tire that is activated by a radio frequencytransmission that energizes the circuit by inductive magnetic coupling.Other prior art devices used for monitoring tire conditions includeself-powered circuits that are positioned external of the tire, such asat the valve stem. Other active, self-powered programmable electronicdevices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,065, 5,573,610, 5,562,787,and 5,573,611 which are assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication.

One problem common to each of these monitoring devices is the problem ofattaching the monitoring device to the tire. The attachment problem isdifficult when the monitoring device is attached to the inside surfaceof the tire, the outside surface of the tire, or imbedded within thebody of the tire. The attachment problem is difficult because the forceson the electronic device are significant and numerous. Tires not onlyare subjected to rotational forces when the vehicle is moving but alsoare subjected to various impact forces when the tire contacts bumps orsurface irregularities. The attachment of the monitoring device to thetire must be strong enough and secure enough to maintain the position ofthe monitoring device with respect to the tire while experiencing all ofthese forces while also protecting the monitoring device from damageresulting from these forces.

Another problem with the attachment of a monitoring device to a tire isthat the tire must be balanced about its rotational axis to efficientlyperform. The monitoring device itself already adds weight to the tirerequiring the tire to be counterbalanced. It is thus desired to minimizethe weight of the attachment so that additional counterbalancing weightsdo not have to be added to the tire. It is thus desired to provide anattachment that is strong and secure while being small and lightweight.

Another problem experienced with attaching a monitoring device to apneumatic tire is that the surface where the monitoring device is beinganchored is often not stable. Tires are designed to flex and stretch toaccommodate various pressures and forces. The attachment of themonitoring device to the tire must accommodate the movement andstretching of the tire surface where the monitoring device is connected.Such accommodation must last throughout the life of the tire andfunction at a wide range of temperatures and pressures.

A further problem experienced in connecting a monitoring device to apneumatic tire is that tires are manufactured on automated assemblylines. The attachment method must be able to be relatively easilyengineered into the existing automated tire assembly lines to be useful.As such, the method of attaching the monitoring device to the pneumatictire cannot include any manual steps or steps that require precisecomponent manipulation.

Another problem with attaching a monitoring device to a tire is that theinnerliner of a pneumatic tire does not readily bond with an adhesive.The material used to fabricate innerliners is selected to create a goodfluid-impervious barrier that retains air within the pneumatic tire. Thematerial is not, however, selected because it is conducive to adhesion.There have thus been problems in the art in connecting the relativelyheavy monitoring device to the innerliner in a manner that securelyanchors the monitoring device without destroying the innerliner.Although buffing the innerliner to create a textured surface iseffective with selected innerliners, the innerliners on many tirescannot be buffed because they are too thin. It is thus desired in theart to provide a method for preparing the innerliner of a pneumatic tireso that a monitoring device may be quickly and easily securely attachedto the prepared area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an objective of the present invention toprovide a method for preparing the innerliner of a tire so that amonitoring device can be easily bonded or adhered to the innerliner in amanner that allows the monitoring device to be securely connectedthroughout the life of the tire.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for preparingthe innerliner of a tire wherein the preparation steps can be performedin an existing automated tire assembly line.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a method forpreparing the innerliner of a tire for adhering an electronic monitoringdevice without damaging the function of the tire innerliner.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for preparingthe innerliner of a tire for adhering an electronic monitoring devicewherein the prepared surface will hold a secure connection of theelectronic monitoring device when the tire experiences various forceswhile in use.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for preparingthe innerliner of a tire for adhering an electronic monitoring devicewherein the preparation of the innerliner adds little weight to thetire.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a method forpreparing the innerliner of a tire for adhering an electronic monitoringdevice that will accommodate the stretching and movement of theinnerliner when the tire is in use.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for preparingthe innerliner of a tire for adhering an electronic monitoring devicewhere the method may be performed at a variety of locations on theinnerliner.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a method forpreparing the innerliner of a pneumatic tire for adhering an electronicmonitoring device that achieves the stated objectives in a simple,effective, and inexpensive manner, that solves the problems, and thatsatisfies the needs existing in the art.

These and other objectives and advantages of the invention are achievedby a method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire for adheringof an electronic monitoring device, the method including the steps ofplacing a patch on the innerliner of a green tire at a selectedlocation; and curing the green tire to provide a prepared area at theselected location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the bestmode in which applicants contemplate applying the principles of theinvention, are set forth in the following description and are shown inthe drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and setforth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pneumatic tire having an electronicmonitoring device connected to the innerliner of the tire;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a patch used toprepare the innerliner by the method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of thepatch of FIG. 2 used to prepare the innerliner by the method of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a patch used toprepare the innerliner by the method of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of thepatch of FIG. 4 used to prepare the innerliner by the method of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of a selected area of agreen tire and of a patch just prior to being applied to the tire by themethod of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a tire curing bladder pushingthe patch against the innerliner during curing of the green tire;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the patch in the process ofbeing removed from the innerliner of the tire after the tire has beencured;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the area of the innerliner that has beentreated by the patch, the view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing an innerliner that wastreated by the second embodiment of the patch of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the connection of the monitoring devicedirectly to the treated portion of the innerliner; and

FIG. 12 is a view of the monitoring device having an attachment patchconnected to the treated portion of the innerliner.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts through the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An encapsulated electronic monitoring device 10 is connected to theinnerliner 12 of a cured tire 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Tire 14 may be anoff-the-road tire, a truck and bus radial tire, or any of a variety oftires known in the art. Device 10 is connected to a prepared area 16 ofinnerliner 12 that increases or maximizes adhesion between device 10 andinnerliner 12. Prepared area 16 is created by using the method andapparatus of the present invention.

In accordance with one of the objectives of the present invention, ananchoring patch 20 is disclosed that is used to create prepared area 16on innerliner 12. Anchoring patch 20 includes a cover 22 and a layer ofuncured rubber 24. Cover 22 is preferably in the form of a layer ofcured rubber 22. Cover 22 may also be fabricated from other flexiblematerials known in the art such as synthetics and metals. For instance,a mylar, plastic, metal foil, metal screen, or a polyurethane may beused to form cover 22. A layer of cure material such as cure paper 26 orcure cloth 26 is disposed between cover 22 and layer 24 to preventuncured rubber 24 from curing into cured rubber 22 when tire 14 iscured. Patch 20 may further include a release cover 28 connected touncured rubber 24 to prevent uncured rubber 24 from becoming dirty andadhering to items prior to its use. Release cover 28 is preferablyfabricated from polyethylene so that it may easily release from thelayer of uncured rubber 24.

Uncured rubber layer 24 is preferably a dual cure rubber that may becured either with heat or appropriate chemicals. Instead of a dual curerubber, uncured rubber layer 24 may be simply a heat-curing rubber or achemically-curing rubber. Layer 24 may also be a natural rubber,styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, orcombinations thereof. Other rubbers also may be used without departingfrom the concepts of the present invention.

Anchoring patch 20 may be fabricated in numerous sizes and thicknessesdepending on the size of tire 14 and innerliner 12 and the size andweight of encapsulated electronic monitoring device 10. In oneembodiment, patch 20 is approximately 4 inches by 4 inches with layer ofcured rubber 22 being as approximately 0.028 inches thick, layer of curepaper 26 being 0.005 inches thick, layer of uncured rubber 24 beingapproximately 0.012 inches thick, and cover 28 being 0.005 inches thick.The approximate total thickness of patch 20 is thus 0.05 inches thick.These dimensions are provided for the purpose of disclosing an exampleof the invention with other dimensions being contemplated.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, cover 22 preferably is reinforced with aplurality of fibers or cords 30 that may be fabricated from nylon,polyester, aramide, or other fibers that can be used to reinforcerubber. Reinforcing cords 30 may be linearly disposed or may be disposedin a mesh. Cover 22 may be fabricated from essentially any type ofconventional rubber. Layer of cure paper or cure cloth 26 preferably istreated with silicone. Only one side of cure paper 26 is coated with thesilicone and it is adjacent uncured rubber layer 24. The silicone allowscover 22 and cure material 26 to be easily removed from uncured rubberlayer 24 as will be described below.

Cure material 26 does not extend entirely to the edges of cover 22 suchthat there is direct contact between cover 22 and layer 24 as indicatedby numeral 32. The direct contact about the peripheries of cover 22 andlayer 24 keeps patch 20 from falling apart because of the adhesiveproperties of uncured rubber 24. It is preferred that cover 22 and layer24 are connected to each other as at 32 entirely around thereperipheries. A connection 32 along only one edge of layers 22 and 24also functions to maintain the position of layers 22, 24, and 26.

A second embodiment of the anchoring patch of the present invention isdepicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is indicated generally by the numeral 40.Patch 40 includes substantially the same cured rubber cover 22, curematerial 26, and release cover 28 as in first patch embodiment 20. Inaccordance with another objective of the present invention, second patchembodiment 40 includes a frame of uncured rubber 42 disposed betweenrelease cover 28 and cure material layer 26. Frame 42 forms an opening44 that allows cure material 26 to contact the surface on which patch 40is placed after release cover 28 is removed. The overall dimensions ofpatch 40 may be substantially similar to patch 20 and cover 22 and frame42 are connected as indicated by numeral 32, to maintain the integrityof patch 40 when it is not in use.

Patches 20 and 40 are used in substantially the same manner to createprepared area 16 of innerliner 12 so that electronic monitoring device10 may be connected to prepared area 16. As such, the method of usingpatches 20 and 40 will be primarily described with respect to patch 20with only the unique results of the use of patch 40 being described indetail. The first step of creating prepared area 16 on innerliner 12 isto provide patch 20 having the construction described above. Patch 20 isconnected to a selected area of innerliner 12 on a green tire 50. Theselected area is the area where electronic monitoring device 10 ispreferably positioned. Although not required, it is often preferred tolocate monitoring device 10 adjacent the bead ring 52 of tire 14. Assuch, selected area is positioned adjacent bead ring 52 on green tire50.

After the area is selected on green tire 50, release cover 28 is removedas shown in FIG. 6 by arrow 54. Release cover 28 may be easily pealedback off patch 20. Once release cover 28 is removed, patch 20 is placedon selected area of innerliner 12 and adhered thereto by the naturaladhesion of uncured rubber layer 24. In some situations, it may bedesirable to stitch patch 20 to innerliner 12 to maintain a secureconnection between the patch and innerliner. The stitching may beperformed manually or automatically.

Green tire 50 is then cured by a known curing process. When green tire50 is cured, an inflatable bladder 56 is positioned inside green tire 50and inflated to create an outwardly directed force on green tire 50 tomaintain its correct shape. The interior of green tire 50 is coated witha release agent to prevent bladder 56 from sticking or bonding to greentire 50. Bladder 56 thus presses patch 20 against innerliner 12 whilegreen tire 50 is being cured. The curing process of green tire 50 cureslayer 24 to innerliner 12. Layer 24 does not adhere to cover 22 becauseof the presence of cure material 26.

After green tire 50 is cured to form tire 14, cover 22 and cure material26 are removed from layer 24 (now cured) as shown in FIG. 8, to form ananchoring layer or prepared area 16. The removal step may occur at anytime after green tire 50 has been cured. Cover 22 prevents prepared area16 from becoming dirty or from being coated with the release agent usedduring the curing process. The removal of cover 22 and layer 26 leavesanchoring layer 24 (now cured) deposited on the selected area ofinnerliner 12 where encapsulated monitoring device 10 will be connected.As shown in FIG. 9, the removal of cure material 26 from layer 24 (nowcured) leaves a textured area 58 where cure material 26 contacted layer24. Both layer 24 (now cured) and textured area 58 are good surfaces foradhering monitoring device 10 because they have desirable adhesiveproperties. Layer 24 having textured area 58 thus forms prepared area 16where device 10 may be connected to innerliner 12.

A direct connection between encapsulated monitoring device 10 andprepared area 16 is depicted in FIG. 11 where an adhesive is used todirectly bond monitoring device 10 to prepared area 16. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, device 10 is connected to prepared area 16with an attachment patch 60 as depicted in FIG. 12. Attachment patch 60includes a layer of cured rubber 62 connected to a layer of uncuredrubber 64. Device 10 may be connected to layer 62 by a suitableattachment or securing means such as an adhesive. Attachment patch 60may then be adhered to prepared area 16 by applying an activator fluidon each layer 24 and 64 and then pressing layers 24 and 64 together toallow the activator fluid to cure layers 24 and 64 together. The bondingbetween layers 24 and 64 create a strong, secure connection betweendevice 10 and innerliner 12. Layers 24 and 64 may also be cured togetherusing heat and pressure. In such an embodiment, a heated bladder may beused to press layer 64 against layer 24 while supplying a suitableamount of heat to cure the two layers together.

When second patch embodiment 40 is used during the tire curing process,prepared area 68 appears as depicted in FIG. 10. As explained above withrespect to uncured rubber layer 42, frame 42 is deposited ontoinnerliner 12 during the curing process. Opening 44 allows cure material26 to directly contact innerliner 12 during the curing process. Whencover 22 and cure material 26 are removed, cure material 26 textures aportion 70 of frame 42 and the portion 72 of innerliner 12 that wasexposed to material 26. Prepared area 68 thus includes frame 42, atextured portion of rubber 70, and a textured portion of innerliner 72.Monitoring device 10 may be bonded to prepared area 68 by the twomethods described above or by other methods known in the art.

Accordingly, the improved method for preparing an innerliner of apneumatic tire for the quick bonding of an electronic monitoring deviceis simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficientdevice that achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides foreliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solvesproblems and obtains new results in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the method for preparing an innerliner ofa pneumatic tire for the quick bonding of an electronic monitoringdevice is achieved, the characteristics of the construction, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and usefulstructures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations andmethods are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing an area on the innersurface of a pneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronic monitoringdevice to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire; the method comprisingthe steps of: providing a green tire having an inner surface; selectinga location of the inner surface of the pneumatic tire to mounted theelectronic monitoring device; placing a mounting preparation element onthe inner surface of the pneumatic tire at the selected location; andcuring the green tire whereby the mounting preparation element providesa prepared area on the inner surface at the selected location.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing at least aportion of the mounting preparation element from the inner surface afterthe green tire has been cured.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising the step of providing the mounting preparation element with alayer of cure material.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising thestep of providing the mounting preparation element with at least a layerof rubber.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step ofproviding the layer of rubber with cords.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of: inserting a bladder into the green tirewhile the green tire is being cured; and protecting the selected areawith the mounting preparation element during the curing step.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising the step of removing at least aportion of the mounting preparation element after the green tire iscured.
 8. A method for preparing an area on the inner surface of apneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronic monitoring device tothe inner surface of the pneumatic tire; the method comprising the stepsof: providing a green tire having an inner surface; selecting a locationof the inner surface of the pneumatic tire to mounted the electronicmonitoring device; placing a preparation element on the inner surface ofthe pneumatic tire at the selected location; the element having a firstsurface area facing the innerliner; curing the green tire whereby themounting preparation element provides a prepared area on the innersurface at the selected location; and pressing the entire first surfacearea of the element against the innerliner during the curing step toprepare the area.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the stepof removing at least a portion of the element after the green tire iscured.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step ofproviding the element with at least a layer of cure material.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising the step of providing the elementwith at least a layer of rubber.
 12. A method for preparing an area onthe inner surface of a pneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronicmonitoring device to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire; the methodcomprising the steps of: providing a green tire having an inner surface;selecting a location of the inner surface of the pneumatic tire tomounted the electronic monitoring device; placing a mounting preparationelement on the inner surface of the pneumatic tire at the selectedlocation without covering the electronic monitoring device with themounting preparation element; curing the green tire whereby the mountingpreparation element provides a prepared area on the inner surface at theselected location; and protecting the selected area during the curingstep with the mounting preparation element.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising the step of fabricating at least a portion of themounting preparation element from a cured material.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising the step of removing at least a portion ofthe mounting preparation element after the curing step.
 15. The methodof claim 12, further comprising the step of providing the mountingpreparation element with a layer of uncured rubber.